What is 'hijama' and why is Karim Benzema a fan of it?

Barely 24 hours after his team - Real Madrid - were pummeled 4-0 at home by Barcelona, Karim Benzema shared photos of himself on his social media pages undergoing 'hijama'.

The French football star who missed the Galaticos' 4-0 El Clasico clash with Barcelona on Sunday due to a calf injury, was seen with reddish spots on his back.

If you've ever wondered what the circles on Benzema's back were about - they are aftermaths of cupping therapy.

Cupping therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves placing special cups on the skin to produce suction and improve blood flow.

Suction is done by removing air or by heating. It then creates a suction effect that draws the blood back up, leaving circular marks on the skin - like the ones on Benzema's back.

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of medicine that is practised primarily in Asia. It is also practised in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Medically, the hijama is used for an array of medical conditions including fevers, chronic low back pain, indigestion, poor appetite, high blood pressure, even infertility.

For footballers like Benzema, the desired effects are relaxation, better blood circulation and relief from chronic body pains.

This was not the first time Benzema shared photos of himself after a hijama session. 

As far back as 2019, the Real Madrid forward spent some parts of his international break having some cupping therapy done on him while sharing photos on his social media pages.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar and Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez are footballers who are also known as lovers of cupping therapy. 

While still at Barcelona, Neymar shared a photo of himself on Instagram undergoing the process while recovering from injury.

Legendary Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has also been seen using hijama several times. He appeared with numerous marks on his skin, back, and shoulders at the 2016 Olympics.

For combat athletes such as Anthony Joshua, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Conor McGregor, hijama (or cupping therapy) is a regular technique used during recovery from injuries.